Student Voices Her Approval For Lassen’s Character

To the Editors:

I am writing to you on behalf of my friend, Father Fred Lassen. I have not been able to participate in the campus discussions as of yet regarding his position, but I was immediately perturbed when I was informed of the proposed halving of his position. Not only is he a good chaplain and resource for students of the Christian faith, he is a wonderfully open-minded, intellectual individual and a friend to numerous students, regardless of faith or creed or personal belief. Apparently the College is going through some financial difficulty, and certain measures must be taken, but there are still many students who pay quite a lot of money to go here, and the diversity of their campus experience should not have to be compromised in this way, and that includes the proposed intern positition cuts in the Theater department and the MRC as well. It would seem that the trend is rapidly moving towards a certain bleakness and monotony of campus life. Is this what Oberlin is all about? I don’t think I need to answer that question. But Fr. Lassen’s job is not even an “intern” position. It is his livelihood, and it is obvious that he is dedicated wholeheartedly to the students of this campus, through his involvement in the organization of religious life and by his constant willingness to help in any small way, even if it is simply to engage in an important conversation. (However, he usually will help more than that, going far beyond the call of duty or expectation.) Certainly not every student will be able to connect with him on a religious level, but he is willing and able to connect with anyone at all on a personal level, and this kind of spirituality and openness of heart is something that this school should hold on to, and not diminish in any way. I think Dan Greenbaum said it pretty well in the April 26 article when he said “People are more important than buildings.” The real poverty of the college would be in compromising themselves on Father Lassen’s position here, and not in the relatively small — and ultimately transitory — amount of money they would save by doing so.

–Lauren Maurand
College senior